Philosphy

Music is a sacred gift that has been placed inside each and every one of us. My goal as a teacher is to help each student realize that gift to its fullest potential so that they may experience the thrill of making music and the joy it can bring to others.

I believe that the release of this potential comes through discipline, passion and self-motivation, which I hope to instill in my students during their lessons. I believe that true joy in music making comes with a strong technical foundation. If a student feels comfortable playing the instrument and secure with the level of their skills, they will realize a further exhilaration in making music. This is why I place a strong emphasis on the very basics of violin playing before going further into training.

I believe that to realize music in its full potential, all aspects of musical study are necessary. This includes theory, keyboard skills, singing, going to concerts, and even dancing. The connection of music and body movement is one that cannot be separated. Children naturally dance to music that is played no matter the context. I recommend students take some sort of dance class, whether it is ballet, tap, jazz or eurhythmics to learn about this connection between the body and music.

I believe that since the gift of music has been placed inside all of us, anyone can learn to play an instrument regardless of age. The level of advancement may vary from younger students to adult students, but the joy of music making will be the same. This is why I accept students of all ages into my studio. I also believe that each student is an individual and cannot be molded to fit a specific teaching method. While I do use similar techniques and books with most of my students, I try to teach each student in the way they learn best.

When I began to play violin seriously, I had a teacher whose passion for the instrument overwhelmed me in an awe-inspiring manner. His dedication to the music and his students gave me the inspiration to give music to others in a similar way. I hope to open my students minds to the new and exciting world of music making, whether they go on to be professional musicians, amateurs who want to give the gift of music to others, or simply audience members who will learn to experience a concert setting in a different way. Let us venture into the joyous world of music together!

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.” ~ Anonymous